by Brey Willows
Ajan waited quietly while she thought. That was one of the things she liked about him. He didn’t mind silence.
“Okay. Get hold of Petra Skinner. Give her whatever info we have, and tell her I want more. Pay her whatever she asks, and tell her to move fast, before Degrovesnik moves on.” Petra, a former CIA operative and now GRADE’s own private investigator, was efficient, dependable, and just a little bit crazy. In Kera’s estimation, a perfect employee.
He nodded, looking resigned. “I’ll do it now.”
“Good. I’m going to go back out there and figure out the Ugandan deal. Let me know what Petra says.” She squeezed his rock solid bicep as she left the room. “I won’t do anything stupid.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Okay, I won’t do anything I consider stupid. Better?”
“Go get us some money. Let me know who I need to talk to when I’m done in here.”
“Will do. Come find me.”
She left the room, adrenaline pumping through her. At last. It had been five years, and after the chaos he’d caused, he’d disappeared. I’m coming for you, asshole. Just like I said I would.
* * *
Kera smiled at her date as she moved back to her side.
“It’s Joy, if you were wondering,” the woman said quietly.
Kera grinned at her. “I knew that.” Joy smiled, and the sharp wit Kera liked was clear in her eyes.
“I’m sure.” She moved as though to whisper seductively in Kera’s ear, her breasts pressed against Kera’s bicep. “The guy from OilCo was discussing your proposal with the guy who smells like sweaty socks from PelicanGull. They were saying your terms are ridiculous, and you should be shown your proper place at the table. The classy woman from Enviro told them not to underestimate you and ditched the conversation.” She placed a small, light kiss on Kera’s cheek and looked at her adoringly. “You’re welcome.”
Kera took in the information, the usual rush of the game drawing her in. She pulled Joy close and ran her hand over the perfectly round, if slightly too muscled for her taste, ass. “I hope you’ll allow me to thank you properly later.”
“I like my coffee with two sweeteners and milk in the morning.”
“Noted.”
Joy pulled away and said more audibly, “Excuse me while I attempt to find the ladies’ room.”
“Hurry back.” Kera watched her walk away, her confidence screaming femme fatale.
She caught the eye of the woman from Enviro, who seemed agitated by the conversation she was having with a doctor Kera had long found irritating. She made her way over and nearly laughed out loud at the look of relief on the woman’s face.
“Emily. Nice to see you again. I’m glad you could make it.” She turned to the doctor, who looked as sour and grumpy as he always did. “Glen. You’re looking well.”
He snorted slightly. “Always the charmer, never a truth-teller.”
“You know, I always forget why I invite you to my little get-togethers. Do remind me, and for Emily’s sake, explain so she doesn’t think I have abysmal taste in friends.”
He glared at her. “You invite me because I work harder than most of the people in this room, and I’m the best at my job.” He looked at Emily. “I’m a biomedical researcher, and I worked with Kera’s mother on diseases in poverty-stricken countries.”
Emily nodded as though she now understood. When Kera saw that, she smiled and turned to Glen. “Thank you for the reminder. If you don’t mind, please go irritate those two squirrely looking gentlemen over there. The ones who’ve forgotten who invited them to this playground.” She said it loud enough to be overheard, and Glen, who sorely lacked a sense of sarcasm, wandered over to the two flush-faced CEOs.
She turned back to Emily, who looked extremely satisfied. “Now. I believe we have business to discuss.”
“Let’s cut the crap, Kera. I want that land and the oil rights that come with it. We haven’t been around long, but our standards are higher and our environmental impact is one of our greatest concerns. What are your conditions?”
Kera liked a woman who didn’t mess around and knew what she wanted. As much as she enjoyed the game, she also loved direct women in power. “You’ll rent the land from me on a twenty-year contract. I want sixty percent of the workforce hired locally and not just in grunt positions. I want twenty percent of the profits, and I want yearly accounts showing staffing and environmental impacts.”
Emily stared at her for a moment. “You know the life-span of an oil rig isn’t nearly that long. Make it a ten-year contract. I’ll accept sixty percent of the workforce, and if you’ll take ten percent of the profits instead of twenty, I’ll put an education program in place, on-site. Impact accounts are no problem.”
Kera ran the numbers. Ten percent still meant nearly half a billion dollars a year coming into GRADE, which meant funding a large number of projects. The bulk of it would go into the local Ugandan community, which she’d already assessed when she’d bought the land, choosing an area with the least amount of conflict and the most need. She’d brought in the geophysicists necessary to determine the land was oil rich and had taken the chance. Many companies, even the large oil companies, wouldn’t touch war zones in Africa. So Kera sought out areas she knew could be controlled, which were often the most desperate, and made deals with the local governments. In turn, she brought in businesses that provided jobs and then funded the kinds of programs needed in poverty-stricken countries. It wasn’t always a clean way of doing things, but ultimately, it meant more people got the help they needed. She could live with it.
“A twelve-year contract, and you fund the reclamation if the wells are empty at the end of it, using the local workforce over the course of no more than three years. I’ll have my lawyers send over the contracts next week.” She shook Emily’s hand.
“You know, I don’t know how you do it, and I probably don’t want to know all the people you’re in bed with, but I like your style.” Emily finished her drink and placed it on a table. “And now that I’ve sold my soul to you, I’ll be leaving.”
Kera laughed. “I’ve got a bank of souls, Emily, but I can assure you yours isn’t one of them. Give me a shout when you’re ready to start moving.”
Emily gave a little wave over her shoulder as she left, and Kera scanned the room for her next move. God, I love this game.
* * *
By the end of the night, Kera had brokered enough deals to keep GRADE going for the next ten years. Her own lifestyle, as well as her staff’s, would continue to be more than comfortable as well. Once the deals were signed, she kept in contact with every company she worked with, to make sure they were adhering to the stipulations of the contracts. She often stopped by their bases in the various countries, mostly because she’d be working there, setting up water plants, educational facilities, and medical institutions. She didn’t care what their businesses were, as long as they didn’t involve weapons or war. There wasn’t much point in working with people who would just tear the region down again.
When most of her party guests had gone, she took Joy’s hand. “I don’t suppose I could interest you in a nightcap?”
“If, by nightcap, you mean the kind of fucking that’ll mean no one else will ever be good enough again, and I’ll mourn the loss for the rest of my life, then yes, I accept.”
God bless direct women. “Well, then…” Kera led the way upstairs.
By the time they reached the bedroom, there was a blur of clothing flying off and scorching kisses. Kera gave her exactly what she’d asked for, fucking her furiously, not bothering with foreplay or protestations of beauty or love. She was sexy, in a hard work kind of way, and plenty responsive. When she went to touch Kera in the early hours of the morning, Kera gently moved her hand away. She gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I’m more of a giver than a taker, love. Get some sleep.”
Joy gave her an exhausted smile and rolled over. She was asleep within seconds, and Kera lay there staring at th
e ceiling. As much as she enjoyed sex, it was a rare woman she allowed access to her body. Too often that meant an emotional connection, and she had neither the time nor the inclination for that. Her parents’ relationship had been as close to perfect as she could imagine, but that kind of thing didn’t happen for everybody. Just a special, lucky few, and she wasn’t going to be one of them, not with the life she led.
She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, wondering what Tisera was doing and if she ever thought of their shared dinner in France. I hope I get to see you again, beautiful lady.
Chapter Nine
Tis sat on her balcony overlooking the Pacific. A light breeze played in the trees, and she closed her eyes to listen. She’d taken a few days off, but decided not to go anywhere. It was pointless to do so, since she’d likely be called back, either to work on the constitution at Afterlife, or to go to a new job with her sisters. Localized, singular murders and violence were way down, but large scale freak-outs were up.
She’d considered going back to France, just to see if Kera was still around, but thought better of it. She liked her and wanted to spend time with her, but her life was far too complicated right now. She didn’t want to try for something she couldn’t have. Coward. I’m being a total coward. Of course she could have a friend. There was no real reason she couldn’t. The truth was, she was afraid. Life felt tenuous; the world was at a crossroads, and Tis wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. What if she started to care for her and then it all went to hell? She was also human, and there was no good way for that to end. Because for one of them, it would end. And then the other would be left to deal with the loss, for eternity.
The phone rang, and she sighed. She was lonely when she was alone, but lonelier when she was surrounded by people. If Aulis weren’t so far away, she’d go spend more time with her. Maybe she could get her reassigned? Washington, DC, wasn’t so far away, and there were plenty of oath breakers there. The phone rang again, and she finally reached for it.
“Hi, Tisera. It’s Cerberus at Afterlife.”
As though there’s another Cerberus, not at Afterlife. “Hi, Cerb. What’s up?”
“I’ve got a message for you. A woman named Kera Espinosa called and left her phone number and said she’d appreciate it if you could give her a call.”
“I didn’t think people could just call the office?”
“They can’t, technically. I’m not sure how she did it. Anyway, want her number?”
“Sure, thanks.” Tis wrote it down and hung up, lost in thought. How had Kera managed to get through to Afterlife? They didn’t make the number public, even though the gods were out now. If their followers wanted to leave a message, they did so via prayer, not the phone. Do I want to see her? When she’d gotten home, she’d done some more research on Kera, and not everything she found painted her in a good light. She toyed with her phone before dialing.
“Espinosa.”
“Do you always answer using your last name? Why?” Kera’s warm laugh made her smile.
“It’s an old habit, I guess. My only phone is my work phone…”
“Meaning if you do have friends, they get your business side first. I understand.” Tis only had one phone, and it too was a work phone.
“I’m really glad you called. I wasn’t sure your office would pass on messages. Or if you even worked out of that office, actually.”
“They wouldn’t, normally. How did you get the number? And yes, I work out of that office. A vast number of us do.”
“I have friends in high, and low, places. One of them managed to get me the number, from a friend of theirs who used to work there but is now a hairstylist.” Kera hesitated for a moment. “I was thinking, our dinner date kind of got interrupted. Would you like to try again?”
Tis bit her thumbnail, thinking. She wanted a friend. She wasn’t sure if she wanted more than that, although sex was certainly welcome. Sex with Kera seemed particularly attractive. “Sure. You’re in Malibu, right?”
There was a moment of silence before Kera asked, “Researching me, are we?”
Tis nearly smacked herself in the forehead. “Well, you sounded interesting in France, and I wanted to know more. I wasn’t sure if I’d see you again, so—”
“Tisera, I was teasing. I’m flattered, actually. I’m sure you’ve met some remarkable people, far more worthy of your time. Well, actually, I’m pretty amazing, so I don’t blame you. Anyway, yes, I’m in Malibu, at the old Robert Redford place. You know it?”
“You could say that. Did you have a day in mind?”
“That sounds interesting. How about tomorrow night?”
“I’d like that. But you know, if work calls…”
Kera laughed again. “Oh, believe me, I know. I’m making dinner though, so if you could let me know if you get called away, I’d appreciate it.”
Tis couldn’t imagine not calling. “Of course.” She hesitated a moment. “I’m really glad you called.”
Kera’s voice was soft, sexy. “And I’m glad you called me back. See you tomorrow.”
Tis hung up and exhaled. She stood up and paced for a moment before doing a little spin in the kitchen. She giggled like a girl and covered her mouth. She jumped at a knock on the door and instantly went from excited to wary. She moved to the door and looked through the peephole. Alec and Meg stood waiting, a huge pizza box in Meg’s hands.
“You know we know you’re watching us, right?” Alec rolled her eyes.
“This box is hot, and I’m hungry. If you don’t open the door, we’re going to eat it all without you, right now, on your doorstep.”
Tis opened the door, laughing. “Sorry. My mind was somewhere else.”
Meg gave her a passing kiss on the cheek as she headed toward the kitchen. “I want to know what it is. But you have to wait until we’ve got food. I’m starving, and you know how I get when I’m hungry.”
Alec gave Tis a hug and walked next to her. “I thought she was going to start chewing on the dashboard when I told her she couldn’t have a piece before we got here.”
“Are you pregnant?” Tis asked, eyeing Meg, who already had a piece halfway in her mouth.
“As if. I haven’t wanted a kid in five thousand years, I’m not about to start now.” She talked with her mouth full. “This is amazing. The best pizza ever, in the world.”
Tis looked at the box and raised her eyebrows. “Since when did Edesia go into the pizza business?”
“You wouldn’t believe how crazy things are getting. She decided that now that she can be out, she wants to be really out. She’s started up a Goddess Food chain, and a whole bunch of goddesses are putting their names on stuff she’s selling. People who are really into food are converting to her as a religion, totally separate from the standard religions.”
“Quite a few of the gods, especially the younger ones, are really taking to the marketing idea, thinking of ways to tell new followers about their religions. Obviously, Jesus is way ahead of the curve, since he’s been doing it for ages.” Alec folded her slice in half and ate it like a sandwich.
Tis slid out a piece and sat on the counter. “I’m glad I’m not involved in all that. It seems so, I don’t know, distasteful. Shouldn’t gods be above that?”
Meg shrugged and started on her third slice. “That’s the thing with them all coming out. It used to be you were supposed to believe in your god, and only yours, or it was sacrilege and your god got to turn you into flora or fauna. Now, there’s no denying the others, so they can’t hold that over people anymore. It’s a religious free market.”
Tis picked up the pizza box, jumped down off the counter, and headed to the balcony. “Speaking of which,” she said, curling up on the outdoor couch, “any news on the gods of the underworld issue?”
Alec took off her boots and rolled up her jeans to put her feet in the pool. “Satan denies it, says although he was slighted by not being allowed on the main council, he wouldn’t use humans that way. He said if and when he doe
s it, it’ll be out in the open.”
Tis looked at Alec, wide-eyed. “He actually said that?”
“Yeah. Zed warned him about the consequences and said he wasn’t welcome at the table because he was a fallen angel, not a god, and there are no other angels at the table either.” Alec scooped a struggling ladybug from the water and watched her shake her wings before flying off. “But he did make him sign the contract the others signed, so now he’s bound to it. No one has any idea where Hades is, but there’s a search on for him. He was sent an invite to sit on the lower council, and he declined it with a hole in the messenger.”
“So, that’s possible then.”
“Let’s stop talking about work for like, five minutes. What has you so distracted? Is she hot?” Meg lay on her stomach with her chin in her hands, staring at Tis.
Tis wasn’t sure if she was ready to talk about Kera. After all, it wasn’t anything specific yet. “Hey!” She wiped pool water from her face.
“Stop analyzing it and just tell us.” Alec grinned at her, her hand cupped in the pool, ready for another swipe.
“Okay, okay. Her name is Kera Espinosa. I’ve seen her at a few of our job sites, and I met her in France recently. We really hit it off.” Her sisters stared at her, silent. Alec glanced at Meg, and Meg looked…worried. “What? What’s wrong?”
Alec’s expression was serious. “What do you know about her, Tis? Have you researched her?”
Tis nodded, a hint of panic bubbling inside her. “Of course. I know she’s a bajillionaire. I know she’s into big business and she’s a philanthropist.”
“It’s not just that, Tis. The people she does business with? We end up meeting a lot of them. Or we would, if they got their hands dirty more often. But a lot of the time they have people doing their nasty work for them, so they’re always on our periphery.” Meg glanced at Alec, who nodded. “Honestly, I only watch her because she’s hot and in all the gossip mags, because she hasn’t actually done anything wrong. But her crowd doesn’t seem to play nice.”
